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Clausura 2018 Week 4 Preview: Saturday’s Games

Lobos BUAP vs Pumas UNAM – 6:00 PM – Univision Deportes
Lobos BUAP (18th) fell 3-1 to Pachuca last weekend to remain winless this season. The licántropos have suffered three consecutive losses to start the Clausura, which has seen them drop down the relegation standings. Another loss here could see them fall as far as 17th in the Tabla de Cociente. Lobos’ defense has been their main problem; they’ve allowed nine goals to date, a league high. Although they’ve scored three goals of their own, they haven’t been able to make those goals stand up. They need to focus on keeping a clean sheet when they return home for this one.

As for Pumas UNAM (1st), the universitarios drew 0-0 with América last weekend in the Clásico Capitalino. The result keeps Pumas unbeaten this season, although they are no longer perfect. They got back to winning ways in midweek with a 3-0 victory against FC Juárez in the Copa MX and they’ll look for another league win here when they face the team on the opposite end of the table.

Tigres UANL vs Pachuca – 8:00 PM – Univision / Univision Deportes
Tigres UANL (13th) drew 0-0 with Querétaro last weekend to keep them winless on the road but unbeaten in two overall. The reigning champions are perfect at home to date and they’ll look for another win when they return to the Volcán for this one. Tigres will also be more rested than their opponents as they did not have a midweek game.

As for Pachuca (9th), the Tuzos beat Lobos BUAP 3-1 last weekend to give them their first win of the season. They followed that up with a 0-1 win against Celaya in the Copa MX in midweek, which was their first win in that competition as well. Pachuca will look to keep the momentum going here; they have the best goalscoring record in the league to date and they are unbeaten on the road in league play so far in the Clausura.

León vs Necaxa – 8:06 PM – ESPN Deportes
León (2nd) drew 0-0 with Cruz Azul last weekend, which keeps them unbeaten the season but no longer perfect. La Fiera are still perfect at home, though, and they’ll look to get back to winning ways – and possibly move into first place – with another victory here. They’ll also be more rested than their opponents as they did not have a midweek game.

As for Necaxa (15th), the Rayos fell 1-3 to Chivas de Guadalajara last weekend to give them back-to-back losses and keep them winless this season. They failed to win in midweek as well where they drew 1-1 with Murciélagos in the Copa MX. Necaxa has also had trouble scoring this season with just one goal from three games – not a promising statistic when they’re facing a team that’s only allowed two goals.

América vs Atlas – 10:00 PM – Univision
América (7th) drew 0-0 with Pumas UNAM last weekend in the Clásico Capitalino to remain unbeaten this season. The Águilas will now return to the Estadio Azteca where they’ll be looking for their first home win. They’ll like their chances of getting it against a struggling opponent, and they’ll also be more rested than Atlas as they did not have a midweek game.

As for Atlas (17th), the Rojinegros fell 1-3 to Toluca last weekend to remain winless this season. Atlas has lost three straight to start the Clausura 2018 although they did win in the Copa MX in midweek, where they earned a 1-2 victory against Tampico Madero. They’ll look to build on that result when they return to league play in this one.

Chivas de Guadalajara vs Monterrey- 10:06 PM – Univision Deportes
Chivas de Guadalajara (12th) beat Necaxa 1-3 last weekend to give them their first win of the season. Chivas will now look for their first home win when they return to the Estadio Akron for this one. Their games have been full of goals this season, both for and against; Chivas will look to tighten up a bit defensively while still keeping their attack flowing. They’ll be better rested than their opponent as they did not have a midweek game.

As for Monterrey (6th), the Rayados drew 0-0 with Tijuana last weekend to remain unbeaten this season but also winless at home. Monterrey is perfect on the road, though, and they’ll look for another away win when they visit Chivas in this one. They got a win in midweek, where they earned a comfortable 3-1 win against Correcaminos in the Copa MX.